Bethel retains Top 5 national ranking

NORTH NEWTON, KAN. – Bethel College has once again made the Washington Monthly “Best Baccalaureate Colleges” list, remaining in its position of No. 3.

Washington Monthly groups institutions into four areas as defined by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, including baccalaureate colleges, which according to Carnegie comprise “schools that focus on undergraduate education but offer fewer than half of their degrees in the liberal arts.”

The Washington Monthly rankings measure institutions based on three criteria, slightly altered from previous years: service, research and social mobility (recruiting and graduating low-income students).

This fall, the Obama administration releases its plan to rate America’s colleges and universities, scheduled to go into effect in time for the 2015-16 school year. These will include measures of access, affordability and outcome – similar metrics to those used by Washington Monthly for years.

Washington Monthly gives high marks to institutions that contribute to society, that enroll low-income students and help them graduate, and that don’t charge a fortune to attend.

“We are honored to see the continued recognition for the kind of quality educational experience Bethel provides for our students,” said Bethel President Perry D. White, “and pleased with work our people have done to make such an experience affordable for more kids.”

In the 2014 rankings, Bethel again follows Elizabeth City (North Carolina) State University and Tuskegee (Alabama) University, out of a total of 346 baccalaureate colleges rated.